Rain returns; Is Minnesota the “Coolest Place on Earth” this year?

Junetober

My sweaters still haven't found the far back reaches of my closet. I keep pulling them out in the evening.

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Our chilly "eternal spring" weather pattern is back. Umbrellas, rain coats and wool socks are still in vogue.

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And if your grass isn't green enough, or growing fast enough how about another shot of rain?

In this Updraft we track the showers, and ponder why Minnesota has been the coolest place on earth this year.

More Puddle Potential

Hope you got the lawn cut.

After two blissfully dry days...the next weather system is here.

This one is a moderate...slow moving system that will linger midweek. As the low tracks south of Minnesota radars will glow with showers and a few thundershowers.

Heres' the NAM model solution.

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The bulk of the rainfall rolls through Tuesday....with .50" to 1" likely in much of southern Minnesota.

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A cool showery pattern lingers Wednesday...but high pressure will gradually clear skies Thursday as more sunshine returns. This will be a wet mid week...but I don't think we're looking at the multi inch, flooding rainfall totals of May in Minnesota this week.

Notice the rainfall bull's-eye over Oklahoma...again.

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Severe Stays South:

The atmosphere over Minnesota will be too cool this week to promote severe weather. SPC has another slight risk for....you guessed it...Oklahoma and Kansas this week.

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Sun returns by Friday?

Our latest drismal system should begin to pull out Thursday. That means a return to some sun Thursday...and probably a full sunny Friday and 1st part of Saturday. Right now Friday and early Saturday look like the best days to schedule a tee time...or venture onto your favorite lake. The latest guidance suggests more rain later Saturday into Sunday.

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Keep in mind even thought it's cool, you can still burn fast on sunny days. We are just...um 17 days from the summer solstice!

Yes the days start getting shorter in under 3 weeks...but before you get too depressed keep in mind that the best and warmest summer weather in Minnesota almost always comes after the summer solstice.

Summer will get here this year....I think. There are some signs we may be pushing 80 again by late next week.

Weather Fingers & toes crossed.

Minnesota: Coolest Place on Earth?

May was the 4th straight month of cooler than average weather in Minnesota.

In fact, we're running about -3.7F vs. average in the Twin Cities and most of Minnesota since February 1st.

As Kai Ryssdal would say, "Let's do the numbers."

Temps vs. average at MSP Airport:

February: -1.8F

March: -5.6F

April: -6.5F

May: -0.8F

This run of cool weather is the first in a long time for Minnesota. It turns out Minnesota has been one of the coolest places vs. average on earth so far in 2013.

Take a look at NOAA's global temps vs. average for April. Minnesota and the Upper Midwest were near ground zero for cold this spring.

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It seems hard to believe sitting in Minnesota, but globally 2013 is the 8th warmest year on record so far.

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It just goes to show we can't see the whole planet from our backyard. Weather is local...global climate is... well...global.

Until our weather pattern changes for the warmer... we'll to live with Minnesota being one of the "coolest places on earth" (vs. average) in 2013.

Paul Huttner